June 26 news

Published by jwettschreck on Thursday, June 26th, 2014

WINDOM – A Windom man is facing second-degree attempted murder charges after allegedly kicking a pregnant woman and threatening her with a knife. Nickson Otema, age 25, is also charged with second- and third-degree assault.

The criminal complaint states he was arrested Sunday when the Windom Police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the 600 block of 13th Street at approximately 5:52 p.m.

The victim stated she and her husband live in the apartment with Otema. She showed them a knife on the bed, which had blood on the blade, and showed them a cut on her hand. She said Otema wanted her to move out, and kicked her twice, stating he was going to get the baby out. She said she believes the baby is his.

She said Otema was holding a knife in his hand and said he was going to punch her with it, allegedly stating if cops came they would not find her alive. She said she got the knife away from Otema and he left the residence.

Otema was released from jail after posting bail and is scheduled to appear in court next week.

JACKSON - A fundraiser for the Jackson Food Shelf will “Light up the Grandstand” at the races Saturday night at the Jackson Speedway. They will be selling glow sticks and glow necklaces with all proceeds going to the Jackson Food Shelf. Glow Sticks will be $1 and bracelets $4. Free lemonade will be also be served. The Jackson Speedway and Black Dog Signs are sponsoring this promotion.

SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa - A Spencer woman has announced plans to open a can redemption center in Spirit Lake. Sandy Conover said she's no stranger to the business, having owned a redemption center in Spencer.

Conover says she plans to open the center July 2nd in the Center Lake Plaza (the former Radio Shack store). She says the number of workers in the facility will likely vary depending upon the time of the year, and that the hours will be the same as they currently are at the center operated by Echo Plus. Conover says she's hopeful that with assistance from the grocery stores, the redemption center will be sustainable.

Echo Plus will be shutting down its can redemption operation June 30th.

ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa — A former Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy has been sentenced for a sex crime after pleading guilty.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reports that 36-year-old former Lyon County Deputy Sheriff Christopher Wayne Lincecum of Rock Rapids pleaded guilty last week to lascivious conduct with a minor, a serious misdemeanor. The original charge had been Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony, which could have carried a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Lincecum was sentenced to a one-year suspended jail sentence and a fine of $315. He will be on probation for 10 years, must attend and complete sex offender treatment and will be on Iowa’s Sex Offender Registry.

In late June 2013, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office began investigating allegations of sexual assault involving a 15-year-old female and former Sheriff’s Deputy Lincecum. Upon discovery of these allegations, the Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) take over and conduct an impartial investigation.

The DCI says the investigation revealed that on two occasions, the victim went on a ride-along with Lincecum while he was working for the Sheriff’s Office. On one of these occasions, the DCI said that Lincecum had inappropriate sexual contact with the victim.
Lincecum separated employment with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office in the Spring of 2013, due to an unrelated matter.

ROCK VALLEY, Iowa - Despite flooding, Rock Valley, Iowa will still host the opening of RAGBRAI. The cross-state biking event will start in the northwest community on July 19. And the city will donate proceeds toward a fund for flood victims.

Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo said it is hard to let go of something they worked for months to organize, and hard to imagine not having the opportunity to showcase the community they have seen rally together since the flooding began.

In a press release, the Rock Valley City Council declared all proceeds from the event will go toward the Rock Valley Flood Relief Fund. The town was included as the first city for the route back in January.

RAGBRAI — or Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — is the oldest and largest bike-touring event in the world. Over seven days, riders will travel 418 miles between Rock Valley and Guttenberg.